Envelope



June 17 1924. 1,498,304

F. sHuTER ENVELQRE Filed Mach 31'. 1923 Patented .lune 17, 1924.

srAT'Es rnANKsoHUsTER, or ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA. Y

ENVELOPE.

Application led March 31, 1923. Serial No. 629,114.

To all whom t may concer/n.'

Be it known that I, FRANK SCHUSTER, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Erie, in the county of Erie and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Envelopes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in envelopes and has for its primary object to provide a series of interconnected flaps and tongues carried by the blank of the envelope for securely retaining the same in a sealed condition to prevent unauthorized access thereto, the envelope being sealed and folded in a manner whereby detection of unauthorized tampering therewith may be readily noted.

lVith the above and other objects in view as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists of the novel form, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, shown in the accompanying drawing and claimed.

In the drawing, wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views,

Figure 1 is a plan view of the envelope blank in its unfolded position, showing the several blank portions, sealing flaps, tongues and gummed portions,

Figure 2 is a plan view of the envelope in its partially folded position,

Figure 3 is a fragmentary plan view of one of the end flaps and sealing tongues carried thereby, and Figure 4 is a bottom plan view of the envelope in its completely foldedand sealed position.

Referring more in detail to the accompanying drawing, there is illustrated an envelope formed from a blank embodying a. central section 1, end sections 2 and 3 and upper and lower flap sections 4 and 5, all of the sections being preferably of rectangular formation as illustrated in plan view in Fig. 1, the end fiap sections 2 and 3 being foldable upon the lines 6 while the upper and lower flap sections 4 and 5are foldable upon the lines 7 and 8. A slot 9 is provided intermediate the ends of the /fold line 7 and a slot 10 is formed intermediate the ends of the fold line 8, the lower flap section k5 being provided with spaced splits 11 alined with the slot 10 as illustrated in Fig. 1. The end flap section 2 is also provided with spaced parallel splits 12 for purposes presentlyto appear. y' f f The lowercorner edge of the flapsection 2 carries a gummed tab 13r foldable upon the line `14, while theend flap section 3 at its l upper outer edge carries a gummed tab 15 foldable upon the line 16. A gummed tabl 17 is carried by t-he outer edge of the `end liap 3 and is connected thereto by the reduced neck 18, the opposite sides ofthe gumined tab 17 being foldable uponthe lines 19.

The outer edge of the upper liap section 4 is serrated as at 20 and gummed, a guninied tab 21 and reduced connecting neck portion 22 being carried intermediate the ends of the upper flap section 4 with the outer face of the central section 1, thel gummed tab 13 being folded upon the line 14. The end flap section 3 is then folded. upon the line 6 and the gummed tab 15 inserted through the slot 9 and folded upon the line 16 to be adhesively secured to the youter face of the central section 1. To pass the tab 13 through the spaced parallel slits 12, the opposite sides of the tab 17 are folded upon the lines 19 to reduce the tab 17 to the size of the connecting neck portion 18,

the tab when passed through the slits 12 as shown in Fig. 2 having `the opposite sidesy thereof unfolded and adhesively secured to the outer face of the end section 2 as shown in Fig. 2. The lowerflap section 5 is then folded upon the line 8 to overlie the end flap sections 2 and 3, and the upper flap section 4 is folded upon the line 7 to overlie the adjacent edgek of the lower flap section 5, the opposite ends of the gummed tab 21 being folded upon the lines 23 for passage through the spaced slit 11 as described in connection with the securing of the flap 17 and finally adhesively secured to the outer face of the lower fla-p 5,-the serrated gummed edge 20 of the flap section 4 also being adhesively secured to the lower Hap section. Writh the envelope so folded, it will be impossible to tamper therewithin an attempt to obtain access to the contents of the envelope Without detection thereof, this-type of envelope providing an unusually safe container vfor Written matter to be carried through the mail.

While there is herein shovvn and described the preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is nevertheless to be understood that minor changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe invention as claimed. y

What is claimed as new is :-d

l. In an envelope ofthe type described, a blank embodying a rectangular center section and a rectangular flap carried by each edge thereof and foldable upon the marginal ylines of the center section, said center section havingr a slot formed at opposite marginal' portions thereof, one end and side flap having spaced parallel slits formed therein, a gummed tab carried by the slitted end flap adapted to be passed through one of said slots, a tab carried by the other end flap adapted to be passed through the other slot, a second tab carried by the last named flap section having a slot formed at opposite'v marginal portions thereof, one end and side flap having spaced parallel slits formed.

therein, a gummed tab carried by the slitted end flap adapted to be passed through one of said slots, a tab carried by the other end,

flap adapted to be passed through theother slot, a. second tab carried by the last. named flap adapted to be passed through the slits in the end flap, a gummed tab carried by one side flap adapted to be passed through the slits in they other side iap, and a gummed' serrated edge on the tab carrying side flap.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

FRANK soHUsTER, 

